The following policies and agreement outline the roles and
responsibilities that are expected of all parties who, as participants or staff with our agency, have found it necessary to
employ alternative approaches to the transportation of program participants
(e.g. Littles, Bigs, Caregivers) for the sake of maintaining their match
relationship and/or engaging with specific events, activities, or opportunities.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of CT (“BBBS of CT”) acknowledges that these alternative methods of
transportation can and should be employed in order to protect the integrity of
the match relationship and for the good of the young person being served. In
doing so however, BBBS of CT expects all program participants to strictly
adhere to the terms of this policy outlined below.
All adults who will temporarily be assuming responsibility for transporting one or more program participants ("Transporting Adult") must meet the following criteria:
- Transporting Adults must be at least 25 years of age.
- Transporting Adults must provide BBBS of CT with a copy of their driver’s license and auto insurance card, as well as provide their name, date of birth, home address, and social security number, all of which will be kept on file at BBBS of CT.
- Transporting Adults must successfully pass an agency-run, comprehensive background check, and successfully discuss their duties/responsibilities as a transporting adult with Match Support Coordinator responsible for the match relationship (if relevant).
- Transporting Adults must demonstrate an ability to meet and follow through on commitments.
- Transporting Adults must display an ability to establish relationships with others.
- Transporting Adults must not have been hospitalized for a mental disorder within the last five years.
- Transporting Adults must not have been denied visiting privileges to their children (biological or otherwise) by a court.
- Transporting Adults must not have ever been convicted of a felony.
- Transporting Adults must not be convicted of child abuse, sexual abuse, assault, sale of a controlled substance, or have a history of violent crime.
- Transporting Adults must not have accumulated more than three motor vehicle violations within the past five years or have had their license suspended within the past five years.
- Transporting Adults must not have a history of substance abuse; and
- Transporting Adults must not have any prior convictions for Driving While Intoxicated or Driving Under the Influence.
All mentors enrolled with BBBS of CT are expected to:- Maintain strict adherence to all Match Agreement Policies, including but not limited to the Agency Safety Policy Statement and Community Based Mentoring Ground Rules Policies & Agreement.
- Maintain and ensure strict compliance with all local, state and federal laws from all transporting adults and program participants.
- Maintain and ensure that there is absolutely no alcohol or drug use before meeting, or in the presence of, the Little by themselves or any/all transporting adults.
- Maintain and ensure that there is there is to be absolutely no tobacco use in the presence of the Little by themselves or any/all transporting adults.
- Always and forever be present during any and all interactions between the Little and the transporting adult. This includes presence during the entirety of match activities and for any/all transportation to/from those match activities that is required to take part in that activity.
All caregivers with enrolled children being transported by an adult who is not their child's mentor are expected to:
- Maintain strict adherence to all Match Agreement Policies, including but not limited to the Agency Safety Policy Statement and Community Based Mentoring Ground Rules Policies & Agreement.
- Be sure, prior to any match activity or event to which the enrolled child will be transported, you know how your child will be transported, when you can expect them home, have contact information for the adults responsible for transporting your child safely, and that relevant adults are aware of any personal or medical circumstances that may impact your child during the outing.
All Transporting Adults are expected to follow all safety requirements in accordance with state law including:- Follow all safety requirements in accordance with state law including:
- Driver and all passengers must wear seat belt.
- In accordance with state law, Littles who are less than 7 years old AND less than 60lbs (both conditions must be met), he/she must be in the back seat of the car in a booster seat using a lap and shoulder belt.
- No use of cell phone or texting while driving.
- No use of alcohol or drugs that would impair driving prior to driving a child.
- No use of firearms during the outing/event. This includes ensuring that weapons, firearms and ammunition are made inaccessible at all times to the Little during the transportation to/from or during any/all match activities.
BBBS of CT reserves the right to inactivate or close any match at any time and for any reason. 